One Spot Short
This story would be perfect start for your 2026
Hi friend
I wish you a very happy new year and I am letting you in on one of my most personal stories. I hope it sparks something in you for the start of a new year. Here it goes…
My dream in 2016 was to be an actor. I was obsessed with films, theatre, stories, writing, and just being in someone else’s world. And in 2017, Mohit was casting for his new play, and he is one of India’s best directors.
Before that I tried my luck at FTII, NSD, Satyajit Ray and everything else that might be available in India. Nothing happened.
Then in 2017, I got an email from Mohit’s team that I am ‘shortlisted’ for a play. I was working at a manufacturing company at that time, I resigned the next day because the rehearsals were to start in two months, just enough for my notice period duration.
(Who takes decisions like this? Quitting your job suddenly without a plan? Me!)
In those two months, all I was thinking about was to be an actor, and how can I prepare for this play.
Cut to first day of the rehearsals, I get to know that there are 30 folks and only 10 will be selected. F***.
My tolerance for failure was zero, it was either this or nothing. So I took all the pressure a 23 year old could take.
It was a 5 day workshop and everyday some actors were getting eliminated
End of day one, 25 remained
End of Day two, 20
End of Day three, 15
End of Day four, 12
And then on the fifth day I thought I am selected because usually every play needs backup actors.
Towards the end of the day, they said we will not be able to accommodate two folks, XYZ and… Pawan. I don’t know why I still remember how that person called out my name and then there was utter silence and shock in the room.
I felt the world collapse. I was 23.
In manufacturing, no one hires a fresher outside campus placements. That door was shut.
So I packed all my stuff from Pune and went back to Aurangabad to live with my parents and start from zero. My parents were happy seeing me back home but they were disappointed in me. I was always a good kid, but I let them down for the first time so that was another guilt apart from the failure feeling.
From there I began my journey in the marketing world. Because I knew how to express and write a story. I knew how to understand a character or the audience. I knew what to say and what not to say for impact. And just started working with some agencies as unpaid intern to get experience.
I even worked with a wedding photographer and covered some weddings that paid me Rs 500 a day. Then I became an English tutor at an institute. Later I became English tutor for rich businessmen in Aurangabad. None of it was planned, I just kept moving to build momentum instead of staying still.
Cut to 10 years later, when I met Mohit now for an interview, the first thing he said to me was ‘You haven’t changed a bit’ and I was so happy that he remembers me from a decade ago. But everything about me has changed since the last time we met.
Two things from this story:
1. When something doesn’t go according to the plan, it is God’s plan. I don’t think so I would have been a great actor. I think I am a better entrepreneur/ marketer than an actor.
2. Some of life’s most important decisions are irrational. You can’t make sense of this journey, I could have never rationally planned this out. So let some serendipity happen, like I mentioned in my last email.
Mohit creates great stories for the world, but he played one of the best characters in my life story. A big thank you to him, and if you want to know more about him, check a snippet of his interview on the Marchtee page.
Cheers, break some rules in 2026.
